"Jennifer Fallon - Second Sons 03 - Lord of the Shadows" - читать интересную книгу автора (Fallon Jennifer)

return of the second sun, or the most heinous crime in SenetтАЩs history.тАЭ
тАЬYou suspect foul play?тАЭ Dirk asked, aware his own life was at just as much risk as MarqelтАЩs. He
had no doubt Marqel would betray him in a heartbeat to save her own neck.
тАЬI suspect nothing, Dirk. IтАЩm leaving that up to you. Find out if sheтАЩs lying. Make her give you the
details. You should know enough about the delta to tell if what she claims is true. Test her. Challenge
her. Find out if the Goddess really spoke to her or if sheтАЩs simply deluding herself.тАЭ
тАЬI think, your highness, perhaps if Madalan, or even Ella, were to speak to her...тАЭ It wouldnтАЩt do to
appear too eager.
тАЬI want you do it,тАЭ Antonov insisted. тАЬIn this case, I trust you to uncover the truth with a vigor
nobody else would bring to the task.тАЭ
тАЬWhy is that?тАЭ
тАЬBecause the Shadowdancer who would have me believe she is the new Voice of the Goddess is
your old friend Marqel. The thief from Elcast who claims you raped her at KirshтАЩs birthday party. IтАЩm
quite certain she lied about that, so IтАЩd not put it past her to lie about this. Given what I will do to her if I
find out that she is lying, I trust you as I trust no other to expose her.тАЭ
тАЬAnd if sheтАЩs telling the truth?тАЭ he asked cautiously. On AntonovтАЩs belief in that, hinged his entire
future.
тАЬThen we will honor Belagren for her piety and wisdom, and after her funeral, we will announce we
have a new Voice of the Goddess.тАЭ Then for the first time, Antonov allowed a hint of his grief and anger
to surface. The Lion of Senet was not taking this nearly as calmly as he would like Dirk to believe.
тАЬAnd,тАЭ Antonov added with quiet menace, тАЬwhen we have given thanks to the Goddess for this boon,
we will sail into Mil and wipe that pestilent outpost and all who inhabit it from the face of Ranadon.тАЭ
тАЬAnd bring back your son?тАЭ Dirk asked, wondering how far down AntonovтАЩs list of priorities the
Crippled Prince ranked.
тАЬOf course,тАЭ Antonov replied, almost as an afterthought. тАЬWe will bring back my son.тАЭ



Chapter 3

Marqel heard someone approach and hurriedly scrambled to her feet. SheтАЩd been sitting on the floor
with her back to the altar, chatting in a low voice to the guard Antonov had left behind to watch over
her. He wasnтАЩt able to tell her much, but it was better than pacing the temple, burning up with curiosity.
Better than praying. The temple was guarded outside, too. The men did not challenge the newcomer as
he approached. They merely bowed in acknowledgment of his rank and stood aside to let him enter.
The guard inside hurriedly stood to attention as the Lord of the Shadows walked in.
тАЬLeave us,тАЭ Dirk ordered.
Marqel studied him warily but it was impossible to gauge DirkтАЩs mood. The guard saluted and
hurried from the temple, leaving them alone.
She smiled as he approached her, her uncertainty giving way to a smug feeling of one-upmanship.
Dirk would learn, soon enough, that she was not to be trifled with, that she was just as capable as he
was of coming up with a clever plan. He stopped in front of her. Before she had time to defend herself,
he raised his arm and backhanded her across the face.
Marqel staggered backward under the force of the blow. She glared at him, rubbing her stinging
face.
тАЬWhat was that for?тАЭ
тАЬBelagren.тАЭ
тАЬOh,тАЭ she said. тАЬSo youтАЩve heard about that.тАЭ In truth, she was more surprised that Dirk had
guessed she was responsible than guilty over the actual murder. тАЬYou didnтАЩt have to hit me.тАЭ
тАЬAfter what you did, I should think it a small price to pay. With my help, youтАЩre going to get away